Holiday Shopping List: Vintage Andirons

Marilyn Monroe once said, “I don’t want everybody to see exactly where I live, what my sofa or my fireplace looks like. If only she knew about OGT andirons…. She may have changed her mind.

As we waltz into this holiday season, OGT brings an incredible selection of statement pieces for your hearth. With many people preferring simple, functional log holders, Andirons may not be typical, but isn’t that more reason to pay attention?

Forged in the late Iron Age, andirons are the oldest fireplace accessory. Andirons lift the wood from the ground, increasing air circulation, yielding a better burn. Initially, basic designs adhered to their practical use. However, art infiltrates all aspects of life and it wasn’t long before the hearth was no different. By the medieval era, blacksmiths had begun adding minor decoration to andiron guards and the trend continued…

Renaissance designers, inspired by ancient Greek and Roman statues, casted beautiful figurative pieces, while the 18th century metal workers depicted animals such as horses, griffins and dragons. Metal began to deviate as well, morphing from ferrous wrought iron to brass, bronze, and even precious silver. By the 19th century, andirons were not just a practical addition to the home, but adornment for the centerpiece that the hearth was and always will be.

As the temperature drops, we too turn to the fireplace. Online and in-store we present andirons ranging from Gothic to early American designs in brass, bronze and wrought iron. One pair, found at our store in the Bowery, features wrought iron horse heads holding a ring.